| William N. H. Smith | |
|---|---|
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| Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court | |
| In office 1878–1889 | |
| Preceded by | Richmond Mumford Pearson |
| Succeeded by | Augustus Summerfield Merrimon |
| Member of the C.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 1st district | |
| In office 1862–1865 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | Henry M. Shaw |
| Succeeded by | John R. French |
| Member of the North Carolina Senate | |
| In office 1848–1848 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1812-09-24)September 24, 1812 Murfreesboro, North Carolina |
| Died | November 14, 1889(1889-11-14) (aged 77) Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Resting place | Historic Oakwood Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic Opposition (1859–1861) |
| Education | Yale College Yale Law School |
William Nathan Harrell Smith (September 24, 1812 – November 14, 1889) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Representative from North Carolina, and as the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Biography
William N. H. Smith was born in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, September 24, 1812, and attended the common schools in Murfreesboro, N.C., Kingston, Rhode Island, and Colchester, Connecticut and East Lyme, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale College in 1834 and from Yale Law School in 1836, and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Murfreesboro, N.C., in 1839.
Smith held several local offices, including being a member of the State House of Commons in 1840, 1858, 1865, and 1866. He also served in the State Senate in 1848; was solicitor (prosecutor) of the first judicial district of North Carolina for eight years, and was elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861). He was unsuccessful candidate (backed by the American Party and many Democrats) for Speaker. He served in the Confederate Congress in 1862–1865, and was delegate to the Democratic National Convention at New York City in 1868. He served as counsel for Governor W. W. Holden in his 1871 impeachment trial, and was chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1878 to 1889.
Smith died in Raleigh, North Carolina, November 14, 1889, and his remains were interred in Historic Oakwood Cemetery.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
External links
- North Carolina Historical Marker
- United States Congress. "William N. H. Smith (id: S000634)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byRobert T. Paine | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 1st congressional district 1859–1861 |
Succeeded byJohn R. French |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded byRichmond Mumford Pearson | Chief Justice of North Carolina Supreme Court 1878–1889 |
Succeeded byAugustus S. Merrimon |
  | This article about a North Carolina politician is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- 1812 births
- 1889 deaths
- People from Murfreesboro, North Carolina
- Opposition Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina
- Deputies and delegates to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States
- Members of the Confederate House of Representatives from North Carolina
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- Democratic Party North Carolina state senators
- Chief justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court
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- 19th-century American judges
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